Nike Melbourne Marathon 2026
A point-to-point marathon from Batman Avenue past Albert Park Lake and the St Kilda foreshore to a finish at the MCG, on Sunday 11 October 2026.
1 weeks to race day: the sharpening window
A full build no longer fits, but a sharp one does. This close in, the job is specificity and freshness: race-pace touches, open-water or brick rehearsal, and a taper your nervous system actually absorbs. No heroics; arrive fresh.
Building for this one? Training plans cover the sessions, the weekly shape and how the block is paced. The R.A.C.E. Framework explains why it is built that way.
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Commit to the date and we will walk you to it: a countdown, honest guidance by email, and the debrief afterwards. Full adaptive training for running races is coming; nothing here pretends otherwise.
One confirmation email, then the road begins. Registering for the race itself stays with the organiser.
“The organiser has changed the course for 2026, removing the 36 km climb and reversing the direction on Beach Road, so older course notes may not apply. Finishing at the MCG needs you to be in by 2 pm.”
The race
The course
Starts on Batman Avenue and finishes at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The 2026 course includes Albert Park Lake and the St Kilda foreshore. The organiser says the climb at 36 km has been removed and the direction on Beach Road reversed. The time limit is 7 hours 45 minutes on gun time, and runners must reach the MCG entry by 2 pm.
Not yet confirmed for this edition: 2026 start times, updated elevation profile, entry fees. We publish these only once they are on the official course page, so check there before you pace off anything here.
Course details verified against the official Nike Melbourne Marathon course page on 4 October 2026. Courses change; the official page is always the last word.
Questions, answered
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Photograph of Melbourne, Victoria: Chris Phutully from Australia, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Not official race photography.
This listing is for information only. Unbroken is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Nike Melbourne Marathon or its organiser. Details are based on publicly available information; names are used descriptively to identify the event. For accurate, up-to-date information and entry, always use the official event website.